The Volkswagen Foundation has approved a research project by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) on the removal of PFAS from the environment. The project 'Biogenic and circular approaches to the removal of PFAS with lignin-based adsorber materials' is being funded with a total of €1.39 million. It is being led by the Freie Universität Berlin, with the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) as a cooperation partner.
The four-year project aims to develop an environmentally friendly method for removing perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated water. Biogenic raw materials such as lignin and glycerol are used in the project. Lignin is a natural polymer that is a by-product of paper production, while glycerol is produced during the production of biodiesel. From this, so-called functionalized adsorber beads are to be developed, designed materials that can bind pollutants such as PFAS on their surface, thereby removing them from contaminated water. These adsorber beads are more environmentally friendly than previously used synthetic resins or activated carbon.
The circular approach of the project should also make it possible to regenerate the adsorber beads, i.e. to completely remove PFAS from them so that they can subsequently be reused. BAM and FU Berlin will carry out the accompanying analysis over the entire project period, including the surface properties. They will also test how much PFAS the beads can actually absorb, as well as their recyclability.
